Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Hike to San Diego County’s Eagle Rock on the PCT

No doubt why it is called “Eagle Rock”

Eagle Rock formation really looks like an eagle spreading its wings.
Eagle Rock formation really looks like an eagle spreading its wings.

The trail to the Eagle Rock formation passes by huge old live oaks and what may be San Diego’s oldest and largest sugar bush. From March to May there can be fields of wildflowers. It is also an opportunity to hike a little over a 3-mile segment of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which stretches 2627 miles from Mexico to the Canadian border.

From the trailhead, follow the well-marked PCT signs south and east up Canada Verde Creek as it passes through open oak woodland with huge old coast live oaks. Notice that some of the oaks are marked as bee trees.

The creek runs strong after rains and is lined with dense riparian vegetation, including willows, alders, sycamores, snowberry, and abundant poison oak.

The trail follows the creek, but it is largely out of the creek bottom, making the hike through the woodland very easy. At intervals the oak woodland is interspersed with chaparral shrubs, including eastwood manzanita, redshank, holly leafed cherry, mountain mahogany, and golden gooseberry. The dense chaparral found here is dominated by chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), a plant of the rose family that was used by indigenous people for kindling and torches. Look for one of the oldest and largest sugar bush plants (Rhus ovata) that appears to be more like a tree than a shrub.

Sponsored
Sponsored

After about 1.25 miles, the trail leaves the oak woodland and begins a gradual climb up a hillside sparsely covered with chaparral. In an exceptional year this area can put on a stunning display of annual wildflowers, including goldfields, desert dandelion, baby blue eyes, cream cups, owl’s clover, ground pink, wine cup, and California poppy. As this is the west side of the San Ysidro Mountains, the display will come a little later than on the hotter, dryer east side.

After 2.0 miles, the trail goes over a gentle rise and crosses open grassland with much evidence of cattle, possibly including the cattle themselves. Here in this open rangeland are sporadic occurrences of annual wildflowers, including ground pink and blue larkspur and non-native grasses. At the peak of the season, whole hillsides may be painted blue, yellow, red, or golden with wildflowers.

At about 3.4 miles from the start, an outcropping of boulders on the hill up ahead will become visible. Here there is a fork in the trail with the PCT going to the right. Take the spur trail to the left (east) that heads for the rocky outcrop and circles around it. Eagle Rock is among these rocks. For a startling view, walk around the backside of the outcrop about 30 to 40 feet beyond the formation before turning around to view the eagle. From this vantage point there is no doubt why it is named Eagle Rock. After viewing the eagle and having lunch or a snack, return to your car via the same route.

This trail is not suitable for the handicapped. Be sure to take plenty of water, as it can be rather warm in the meadow area where there is no shade. Remember to stay on the PCT except for the jaunt to the rock formation.

Distance from downtown San Diego: About 70 miles. Expect to drive 1 hour and 35 minutes. From

San Diego, drive to Ramona and take Hwy 78 east to Santa Ysabel. Turn left (northeast) on Hwy 79 and drive 14 miles. Park next to the fire station. The trailhead is about 10 yards south of the Warner Springs fire station on the east side of Hwy 79. Look for a gate and the Pacific Crest Trail sign. There are no facilities.

Hiking length: 6.5 miles round trip.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate, with elevation gain/loss of about 1530 feet.

Canyoneers are San Diego Natural History Museum volunteers trained to lead interpretive nature walks that teach appreciation for the great outdoors. For a schedule of free public hikes:

http://www.sdnhm.org/education/naturalists-of-all-ages/canyoneer-hikes/

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

San Diego seawalls depend on Half Moon Bay case

Casa Mira townhomes sued after losing 20 feet of bluffs in storm
Next Article

For nutty pies at Pizza by Aromi in La Mesa

Sicilian cousins add to the Italian goodness they dish out around Lake Murray
Eagle Rock formation really looks like an eagle spreading its wings.
Eagle Rock formation really looks like an eagle spreading its wings.

The trail to the Eagle Rock formation passes by huge old live oaks and what may be San Diego’s oldest and largest sugar bush. From March to May there can be fields of wildflowers. It is also an opportunity to hike a little over a 3-mile segment of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which stretches 2627 miles from Mexico to the Canadian border.

From the trailhead, follow the well-marked PCT signs south and east up Canada Verde Creek as it passes through open oak woodland with huge old coast live oaks. Notice that some of the oaks are marked as bee trees.

The creek runs strong after rains and is lined with dense riparian vegetation, including willows, alders, sycamores, snowberry, and abundant poison oak.

The trail follows the creek, but it is largely out of the creek bottom, making the hike through the woodland very easy. At intervals the oak woodland is interspersed with chaparral shrubs, including eastwood manzanita, redshank, holly leafed cherry, mountain mahogany, and golden gooseberry. The dense chaparral found here is dominated by chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), a plant of the rose family that was used by indigenous people for kindling and torches. Look for one of the oldest and largest sugar bush plants (Rhus ovata) that appears to be more like a tree than a shrub.

Sponsored
Sponsored

After about 1.25 miles, the trail leaves the oak woodland and begins a gradual climb up a hillside sparsely covered with chaparral. In an exceptional year this area can put on a stunning display of annual wildflowers, including goldfields, desert dandelion, baby blue eyes, cream cups, owl’s clover, ground pink, wine cup, and California poppy. As this is the west side of the San Ysidro Mountains, the display will come a little later than on the hotter, dryer east side.

After 2.0 miles, the trail goes over a gentle rise and crosses open grassland with much evidence of cattle, possibly including the cattle themselves. Here in this open rangeland are sporadic occurrences of annual wildflowers, including ground pink and blue larkspur and non-native grasses. At the peak of the season, whole hillsides may be painted blue, yellow, red, or golden with wildflowers.

At about 3.4 miles from the start, an outcropping of boulders on the hill up ahead will become visible. Here there is a fork in the trail with the PCT going to the right. Take the spur trail to the left (east) that heads for the rocky outcrop and circles around it. Eagle Rock is among these rocks. For a startling view, walk around the backside of the outcrop about 30 to 40 feet beyond the formation before turning around to view the eagle. From this vantage point there is no doubt why it is named Eagle Rock. After viewing the eagle and having lunch or a snack, return to your car via the same route.

This trail is not suitable for the handicapped. Be sure to take plenty of water, as it can be rather warm in the meadow area where there is no shade. Remember to stay on the PCT except for the jaunt to the rock formation.

Distance from downtown San Diego: About 70 miles. Expect to drive 1 hour and 35 minutes. From

San Diego, drive to Ramona and take Hwy 78 east to Santa Ysabel. Turn left (northeast) on Hwy 79 and drive 14 miles. Park next to the fire station. The trailhead is about 10 yards south of the Warner Springs fire station on the east side of Hwy 79. Look for a gate and the Pacific Crest Trail sign. There are no facilities.

Hiking length: 6.5 miles round trip.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate, with elevation gain/loss of about 1530 feet.

Canyoneers are San Diego Natural History Museum volunteers trained to lead interpretive nature walks that teach appreciation for the great outdoors. For a schedule of free public hikes:

http://www.sdnhm.org/education/naturalists-of-all-ages/canyoneer-hikes/

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Successor to Lillian Hellman and Carson McCullers

Crossword puzzles need headline
Next Article

For nutty pies at Pizza by Aromi in La Mesa

Sicilian cousins add to the Italian goodness they dish out around Lake Murray
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader